For Jim White, who celebrated his 30th year with Volunteers of America on Saturday, the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is the one time of year he doesn’t have to ask people for money.
It’s an escape from his job as the nonprofit’s director of community affairs and his primary duties marketing and fundraising for the 30 programs VOA runs, including Meals on Wheels.
Away from the office, White is an avid music fan who just returned from his 20th consecutive trip to Jazz Fest.
“Our national VOA office used to be in New Orleans,” White said about his first Jazz Fest visit. “I was there for work, and some people said, ‘By the way, this event is going on, and you might like it.’ “
Headliners for his first Jazz Fest included Gloria Estefan when she was with the Miami Sound Machine.
“I thought, ‘I cannot believe this,’ ” he said. “There’s nothing like this on Earth. That’s when the hook was set.”
White, who starts searching for a “reasonable” airfare in September, always stays with pal Jim Le Blanc, president and CEO of Volunteers of America of Greater New Orleans.
During White’s trip to New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, LeBlanc led him on what he calls “The Misery Tour” of the devastation throughout the Ninth Ward and surrounding areas.
“That was a rough year at the Fest,” White said. “Everybody just went through the motions, but we realized that all around us, there was this horrific mess.”
The two VOA colleagues made the same tour for three years so they could see the area start to rebuild.
White says his favorite Jazz Fest memories over his 20-year attendance include: “The Staple Singers when Pops Staples was still alive; Aaron Neville joining the Zion Harmonizers in the Gospel Tent; Aaron Neville joining Paul Simon on ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’; seeing Dave Brubeck do ‘Take 5.’ “
His favorite Jazz Fest song? “Charmaine Neville’s ‘You’ve Got the Right Key, But You Put It in the Wrong Keyhole.’ “
Bird bunch.
Looking for a new angle on Mother’s Day? Sure, flowers and breakfast in bed are nice, but what about bird banding?
The Audubon Nature Center at Chatfield treats moms to a continental breakfast, a spring hike and a visit to the bird-banding station from 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday. Additional adults pay $10; children $5. Preregistration required: 303-973-9530.
Think pink.
Pinkberry, the frozen-yogurt chain that has gained a cult following, opens its first metro-area location May 27 at 1000 S. Colorado Blvd.
I stumbled upon the only New Orleans Pinkberry outlet last week, and after sampling a half-original and half-coconut frozen concoction, I finally understand the buzz. It’s a tart, not sweet, product, which you can have topped with as many items as will fit in your cup.
You can sign up as a groupie and get a free Pinkberry on May 26 at ;.
Eavesdropping
on a young guy talking on his cellphone on the 16th Street Mall: “What is it? What is it when they reach a certain age and they want a baby?”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
